Internalizing JFK: Social Workers Obligation to Humanity Touch The World Social Worker

Internalizing JFK: Social Workers Obligation to Humanity
Touch The World Social Worker Scholarship Contest
By: Paul D Goree 2011 Phoenix, AZ ASU



November 29, 1962, John F. Kennedy avowed to the American public "...I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." (From the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C., November 29, 1962) When I think of how I want to touch the world with my social work education and experience, the words of Mr. Kennedy echo through my heart, as an obligation to be upheld. How I have in the past and how I intend to continue my, “contribution to the human spirit?" Is the plight of my total existence?


My journey has been a long winding epic, of voluminous parables, of which I proud to have established what I intend to be my reparation to society: Humanitarian endeavors. My journey started in 1992. I was 22 years old, attending Seattle Central Community College. I was majoring Social Welfare, with intention to complete my Associate Degree and certificate of CDP (Chemical Dependency Professional). I had glorious plans on revolutionizing substance abuse and assisting in a victorious triumph in the "War on Drugs". These days, those earlier ambitions seem humorously perspicacious. Although I was eager and zealous, my true passion and concern for others, was inevitable and a future in social welfare, would be my destiny. As life has its winding ways, I had to put my academic endeavors aside and obtain employment. Luckily, I secured contract positions with various agencies, whereby my passion for social work, would not idle.

The most enjoyable years, were 1997-1999. I was a contract administrative assistant to a human resource benefit director. My administrator and I were responsible for retirees and surviving spouse benefits. Our job duties would have been conventional; as in providing retirees the opportunity to change their health care plans during open enrollment or assisting surviving spouse with their benefit options. However, the company for which I was contracted had announced their intended closure in the coming years, meaning a major cut in the steel industry of Cleveland, Ohio. The trickling effects this announcement had the community was devastating, seeming that steel had been the blood line of that economy for nearly a century.


Four hours a day, my administrator and I handled countless panic phone calls from retirees and surviving spouses, who had become alarmed by the news of the closure. Some days the heart grief of our clients was unbearable. I was assisting the retirees and surviving spouse who had overcome the Industrial Revolution, World War 1 and 2 and had cemented American work ethic into the soul of our canvases’. These were the generations I admired and to be assisting them was an honor. During many of those panic phone calls, I found myself naturally doing, what social workers do best: listening, assessing, informing and referring. The most benefiting thing I provided my clients, especially surviving spouses, was information regarding other health care options they had available to them. Many of the surviving spouses were spouses of veterans and were eligible for Veteran surviving spouse benefits and or Medicare widow benefits, yet were not aware of these options.

I cannot explain the delight of the many clients who called back to thank me and my administrator for referring them to Veteran Services and or Social Security. The removal of worrying about medical care was one less distress upon them, of which they could have some comforted reassurance. Today as I think back upon those clients, I am even more impressed with legislation which has resulted in more options such as Medicare Part D. These types of events are evidence to me that social welfare is where my soul code resides. (James Hillman)

The next 10 years after those contract positions, my life, consisted of a continuous "peak and valley" rollercoaster ride. During the midst that time period (2006), I found myself assisting my co-workers with what soon would be the collapse of our economy and the recession/depression of 2008. Again my natural passion for social welfare prevail my own circumstances. At the onset of 2008 and with my recent unemployment, I decided to write and maintain a blog concerning unemployment in Las Vegas, Nevada in comparison to the nation (https://paulgoree.wordpress.com/2008/12/21/unemployment-extension-tier-ii/).

As our nation witnessed high unemployment levels and the extension of Tier benefits, I documented how these efforts were affecting my community in Las Vegas and what unemployment legislation was our elected officials considering. I am proud of the work I did on this blog, for I experienced another venue of social welfare, not often considered by others. For me the number one function of a social worker is assisting those in need of assurance. The assurance usually has to do with economy security. And therefore as our nation experience the trails of a dooming economy during from 2008 – 2010, I provided accurate up to date detailing of Tier benefits to support the ever increasing 99er population. Also I felt it my duty to encourage my readers, and facilitate our Presidents optimism of economic recovery. I often quoted inspirational thoughts from Franklin D. Roosevelt, during the Great Depression 1932. One of my more popular post, I advised fellow unemployed person of a FDR quotes from 1932. In an attempt to prevent lofty behaviorism, FDR instructed the America public "...above all else, do something…” And to engrave endurance, he stated, “…“ When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”(Albert Fried)


Keeping in the spirit of FDR, I decided to volunteer my time at the Salvation Army. The majority of my time was spent, assisting the homeless in the DRC (Day Resource Center), where they could take a shower, get assistance with social service and medical needs, and get referrals to Veteran assistance and Social Security. Volunteering provided me with real life experience with, the societal need of social workers. When my employment situation did eventually get better, I unknowingly was experiencing employer abuse and warned my blog readers about the consequences of prematurely waivering ones labor rights out of desperation for some employment during this recession/depression. I informed them of the state and federal laws that assign the titles of contract employee verse contingent workers. This was valuable information, for many employers sought to cut operation expenses by using contingent workers as contract employee and avoiding employment insurance taxes.

Over the last two years I have put a lot of thought into my passion, its history and how I intended to re-enter the academic world. The most inspiring thing I constructed since 2009 is a list of historic personalities, whom I term "My Scholar Heroes", these are persons I have researched, admire and plan on dedicating my life to their endeavors. They include, Benjamin Franklin. General William Booth, Jean Henri Dunant, Clara Barton, Ron Dellums, Jane Adams, Mary Richmond, Jimmy Carter, Edit and Grace Abbot, Lester Blackwell Granger, and so many others I am endlessly adding to my list. The one attribute each of these, scholar heroes have in common is they each contributed to humanity something of a social welfare value. They touched the world, by providing from their passion to assist in the overall betterment of humanity. I believe the most effective way to accomplish this is through social welfare, which includes education.

Today I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to continue my education at Arizona State University majoring in social work. My intentions are to finally complete my undergrad degree, obtaining a BSW in 2013. At which time I am planning on achieve what I think is the ultimate in my field, a JD/MSW. How I plan on touch the world with social welfare is by completing my educational goals, then continuing what I have been doing for almost 20 years now, simply providing some assurance to those who seek it. I have a specific interest in homelessness and want to be involved with non-profit homeless services. As our economy idles, more and more working Americans are finding themselves unable to keep up with their family living expenses. Many of them are falling victim to depression and the fear of homeless for themselves and families is an event of failure. I think it is critical that stigma associated with homelessness, poverty and social welfare be removed, in order for recipients to fully benefit from all that is available to them. When I was volunteering, I witness the tragic depths of self guilt and pity, by men and women who felt they had lost their grasp of industriousness. They had internalized national unemployment as a personal guilt. I sought to it; to remind them

that our current economic condition is not their fault and they (we) are not victims. Like FDR, I reminded them that during these times of misfortune, we must keep functioning. The social welfare tools available to society are in part paid for by them, when they were employed. Simple awareness is sometimes the best antidote. I want to fill the social welfare field with awareness. Fortunately with a JD/MSW I will have some leverage in policy making, which I intend to use for the reassurance of social justice (economically and civilly).

Cali Reflection - - Arrival Back To Cali, reflections of awareness of current behavior. San Diego 7/2015

CALI-REFLECTIONS:

Through reflecting, especially internal reflecting (S.Freud) one able to consciously reflect upon past experiences, without a external/super ego factor being accessible. Thus one come to a self acknowledgment by which responsibility become imperative and must be acknowledged by the self first. Then one is able to move forward with how they responded and validate (self analysis). As with psycho analysis, it is a slow discovery process, which a person growth in strength based, self determinate and empowering motives helps an individual understand more of the social development of their psyche and why they are as they are! So here is my understand, by which I see currently many values and concrete thoughts being developed within my life at the age of 7-8. I have only perfected these thoughts as I utilize them. At the core of the state incidences, the rooted variable that will remain and developed through my life is very vivid. In Jame Hillman's work, he details the importance of these childhood developing variables, which often remain as we mature into adulthood. If these variables are acknowledged early: the opportunity to fuel them becomes an empowering factor. http://www.scottlondon.com/interviews/hillman.html


CHILDHOOD REFLECTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT:

I at a young age,  K-12 always went about tolerance of others regardless of their expressions or actions towards me. I came across as very socially passive, but couldn't understand the aggression of social norms.Yet at time refuse to let myself be comprised on factors I felt were not fair.  In 3rd grade (first time) Taft Elementary in Santa Ana, CA. Our school was socially inter-grating at the time merging hearing impaired with non-hearing impaired to help over come educational and social differences. I recall my first outstanding teacher, Mrs. Davis who got disappointed with the lower level reading circles self acceptances of being the 'dum-dum group'.

One month she pulled several of us aside from the lower level group, took us in the library and explained what today I now know as educational reseach. Her theory was that we did poorly in the reading circle because of the other groups expectation and the text book. She then told us the importance of her theory and how we had the entire library as our text book, within our grade level. After choosing a book of our own decision and writing a report. The grade of that report and our performance would give access to the next grade level. Finally I loved to read and learn. Mrs. Baker proved to me that teachers are more than educators, they are empowerment providers. It was also in this same class that I easily would leave campus at lunch, walk to the park and have lunch there.

 I would return for class on time and no one noticed. Until one recess I was approached by two hall monitors questioning me about being on the other side of the campus alone. Their obligated duty resulted in me not only losing my freedom to utilize my recess and lunch to be alone  but also free time social involvement I did not desire at the time. Such activities as conventional sports and playground activities. My mother was told that the school thought more extra social collective activities would be a good ideal. My mother was overall cool knowing I was not interested in Little League, but being the military mother she is, thought the Cub Scouts would be a good thing. Well today I reflect back and laugh at the wit/ Freuds' subconscious behavior at work. I was determined to not cooperate because I didn't think it was fair. So I would intentional not wear my uniform correct, I would delay task to received a badge. The other scouts fully understood my opposition against them in our meetings. At school all was fine, but I made their objective difficult hoping for the day a realization occurred. It finally did when my mother and the Den Mother concluded maybe my interest are better else where.

To fully reflect disciplinary actions sometime lead to more serious behavior that must be attended to server and prompt. I had to repeat the 3rd grade because a new 'private-public' school was built and I had to attend. The code of conduct and expectation were higher. At such a honorable academic school, it became the social horror of the school district that a theft existed in the 3rd grade and identifying this individual was complicated taking longer than it should have. I was that theft, stealing from my 'favorite' teachers’ purse for unexplained reasons. Just to do it. I remember the detective coming several times and him one day telling us the seriousness of this. He informed the class that whoever the individual is will be caught. And one day fellow classmate could rest assured that person would be on an Most Wanted criminal poster. Eventually I got caught and several server action taken, especially at home. The tragedy was Mrs. Melton truly was my favorite teacher. Her father like mines was a performer/music, she lived music and travel like me. However the events which lead to the breaking of that bond I never fully understood why, but knew it was wrong and the implication of those actions.

INTERACTIVE DEVELOPMENT EXPRESSIVE COMMUNICATION:

A later in high school I remember one peer asking me if I recalled the incident. She wanted to make sure I remembered and that she 'prayed' for me knowing I was a good person, troubled but good. It was at that point I understood people who care (friends, family, and elders) will check on you time to time to time: verifying previous behavior has developed into something supportive and utilitarian in essence. Why, because unlike others you hold a higher standard you placed upon yourself, which helps others evaluate themselves. At no time had I denied the event, yet nor was it coffee table conversation except at home and extended family members. That peer helped realize early on people are understanding and people (like her) want to know a person had grown, come full circle and is not ashamed of their past which has made them what they are.  Reason why she is so relevant is after she questioned me I wonder why no one else brought the subject up.  It is imperative that in collective society, that this “Expressive” interaction is norm and always in effect.